Even though winter has set in, the prices of seasonal vegetables are yet to go down. Most of the vegetables are priced at Rs 50 per kilogram while a few have also crossed the Rs 100-mark. The price of pumpkins remains at Rs 20 per kilogram. The untimely rain in early December wreaked havoc on crops, widening the demand-supply gap, said Kamal De, president West Bengal Farmers’ and Vendors’ Association.
Capsicum, beans, carrots that are usually cheaper this season remain high-priced and beyond the reach of many people. The prices of the vegetables like okra (Rs120), pointed gourd (Rs100), bottle gourd (Rs 60 apiece) and bitter gourd (Rs 80-Rs 90) are going through the roof. These vegetables, used to be known as summer vegetables, are now produced round the year. In winter, the price of eggplant (brinjal) falls to Rs 20 a kg but this time it is hovering between Rs 60 and Rs 70.
“The price of cabbage in 2019 fell to Rs 10 a kg around this time while it is Rs 30 now. The supply of tomato floods the market and sometimes its price plunges to Rs 10 a kg in winter. This time it is being sold at Rs 60-Rs 80 a kg,” said Subal Saha, a trader at Lake Market.
[ Rs 100 = €1.20 ]
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
